TriggerTalk Radio

I am often questioned about traveling with firearms, with most people focusing on the method and type of storage for the actual movement of the firearms.

There are specific laws that make it legal for you to transport a firearm that you legally own from a place where it is legal to own to a place where it is legal to posses them even if if you must pass through a state that prevents the ownership.

18 U.S. Code 926A – Interstate transportation of firearms

Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof:

Any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if,

 during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle:

Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver’s compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

The above paragraph is generally refereed to as the “Safe Passage Provision” and the only law that supersedes or prevents the proper transportation of a firearm is if the person is a “prohibited person” such as a Felon.

Very specific rules and regulations are specified for air travel, but most people have found them to be convenient and the airlines to be helpful.

Now that is all fine and dandy, I have a way to transport my guns, but what about when I get there?  If I am headed to a state with CPL reciprocity, meaning they respect and honor my CPL I am all set, but many do not and currently you are just plain out of luck.

Currently 39 States through either through “Permitless Carry” or CPL reciprocity honor the rights of Michigan Residents to carry in their states. I routinely carry when in these states either as a destination or when passing through. Heading to the east coast is another story however!

Having just returned from an 8 day vacation in Washington D.C. this was the longest period that I have been without a gun in 2 decades.

My concern on this trip was the deteriorating conditions as a result of the violent protests, Anarchists, “ Antifa”  with individuals attacked in the streets and restaurants, etc…

Every building and attraction I visited had  metal detectors and armed guards so I would not have been able to carry and I even had to leave my pocket knife in the hotel room. I watched people totally unaware of their surroundings, with their faces in their phone and earbuds in their ears.

Even in my home state of Michigan I know the rules on where I can and cannot carry and make my choices for safety by choosing when and where I will go. In the 11 states that do not recognize my  CPL they have taken away my options for self defense. In D.C. every building and “Elite” person was accompanied by an armed guard, we deserve the same protection capability . It is time for National Reciprocity, please let your Representative or Senator know how you feel.

As with so many things in the Anti-Gun world, creativity is very important in reaching the desired level of outrage. This has been true for decades with guns banned for the way they look unrelated to their actual function.

These were called “Evil Features” a list developed if your rifle contained enough of them it was added to the assault weapons ban. Bayonet mounts, Flash suppresors, pistol grips all made it to the list things of options to be banned because “We have to do something!” not matter how ineffective.

Now we have 3D Printed Guns and according to the false outrage of the Anti-gunners, Murderes, Rapist and Terrorists can now manufacture their own means to create mass havoc in society. Despite having politicians and mentally challenged Hollywood “Stars” labeling them “Downloadable Death” the real truth falls far short of hype.

It is currently within the law for an individual to make a firearm for their own use, not to be sold to others. This spawned the industry for 80% lowers for the AR Platform rifles as well as the the frame sections of semi-automatic pistols. A hobbyists can purchase a partially completed casting or a molded polymer frame and complete the machining themselves. They then need to purchase all the other parts: Barrel, springs, magazines, trigger, hammer , screws, pins more springs, bushings, sights, etc… not to mention drill presses, jigs, lathes and other machining equipment to finish the assembly.

This process would be similar to buying your car piece by piece, (tip of the hat to Johnny Cash’s 1976 “One Piece at a time” ). It is very time consuming, more expensive and takes a lot of skill to actually make all those pieces work together correctly.

But wait, now you can just flip on the computer and print a fully functioning gun, anybody can do it! I could fill this column with the list of proper equipment, and skills required. Fortunately there is a great example of the process that was done by a TV station to demonstrate how easy it is.

The station went to a Professional 3D Printing Company with the equipment and skills with the plans and asked them to produce the “Firearm”. After 36 hours of printing, it took considerable hand work to make all the parts fit and work together. Taking the gun to a range they carefully fired the gun from a distance and took slow motion video of the test firing of a .380 acp round.

When fired it blew itself into 100’s of pieces and the video shows the projectile on a downward path towards the floor. If a person would have been holding this gun they would have severely injured their hand and would have been unlikely to hit their intended target.

A person intent on doing harm will find a way, in the absence of a firearm they now use vehicles as the weapon. This is just another manufactured outrage to give politicians face time on camera to show what they are doing to “Protect Us”.